Mexican primary a big gamble for PRI

MEXICO CITY {AP} Mexico's ruling party took its biggest gamble on democracy Sunday, holding the first presidential primary in the 70 years it has governed the nation.

By abandoning a system in which outgoing presidents named the candidate, the Institutional Revolutionary Party hoped to boost its democratic credentials and select a nominee popular enough to fight off growing opposition challenges.

But it also risked infighting for the nomination that could lead to a split, damaging its chances of winning the July 2 election.

Former Interior Secretary Francisco Labastida was expected to defeat his main rival, former Tabasco Gov. Roberto Madrazo, and two other candidates: former Puebla Gov. Manuel Bartlett and former party leader Humberto Roque.

If it can avoid a split, the party's chances are excellent for holding onto the presidency. Many Mexicans equate the party, known as the PRI, with the nation's identity. It has the most supporters and a powerful machine that includes local officials, union members and peasant groups.

One voter, Jorge Huges, said he believed the primary would "legitimize" the PRI. "That is what I hope for now that they have for the first time held an election with several candidates," the 29-year-old business manager said in the upscale Club de Golf Bella Vista neighborhood.

Voter turnout was low Sunday morning at many polling stations in Mexico City, and there were scattered reports of voting materials arriving late.

Issues haven't been central to the primary campaign. All candidates have promised to fight poverty, stop rising crime, improve education and boost women's rights, though there has been little debate over specifics.

Instead, the candidates have focused on the primary itself. Though President Ernesto Zedillo, who is barred from seeking re-election, has not backed any candidate, Labastida is widely seen as his favorite. Local and state officials have rallied behind him in violation of new party rules, angering his rivals.

Madrazo has denounced the electoral process, while trying to turn it to his advantage. He tried to paint Labastida as the "official candidate" a label Labastida rejects and has campaigned as the candidate for change.

Pre-election surveys showed Labastida with leads of 10 percentage points or more over Madrazo, but it's not the total vote that will determine the victor. Instead, the nominee will be whoever wins the most of the 300 electoral districts. That was expected to favor Labastida, whose support is seen as the broadest of the candidates.